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Augustine on Love and God

Augustine on Love and God. Introduction. Introduction. Aurelius Augustinus (354-430). Introduction. Fall of Rome. Introduction. Fall of Rome (Divided). Introduction. Fall of Rome (Attacked). Introduction. Fall of Rome (Sacked 410 AD). Introduction. Fall of Rome (Sacked 410 AD)

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Augustine on Love and God

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  1. Augustine on Love and God

  2. Introduction

  3. Introduction • Aurelius Augustinus (354-430)

  4. Introduction • Fall of Rome

  5. Introduction • Fall of Rome (Divided)

  6. Introduction • Fall of Rome (Attacked)

  7. Introduction • Fall of Rome (Sacked 410 AD)

  8. Introduction • Fall of Rome (Sacked 410 AD) • Augustine in De Civitate Dei (City of God) tries to explain this

  9. Introduction • ‘Salvation’ Religions

  10. Introduction • ‘Salvation’ Religions • Incompetence of Empire

  11. Introduction • ‘Salvation’ Religions • Incompetence of Empire • Oppression of common populace

  12. Introduction • ‘Salvation’ Religions • Incompetence of Empire • Oppression of common populace • Irrelevance of philosophers’ ideals and recommendations for living

  13. Introduction • ‘Salvation’ Religions • Incompetence of Empire • Oppression of common populace • Irrelevance of philosophers’ ideals and recommendations for living • Seek help elsewhere

  14. Introduction • ‘Salvation’ Religions • Incompetence of Empire • Oppression of common populace • Irrelevance of philosophers’ ideals and recommendations for living • Seek help elsewhere • Mithra, Isis, Cybele and Attis, … Christ.

  15. Introduction • ‘Salvation’ Religions • Incompetence of Empire • Oppression of common populace • Irrelevance of philosophers’ ideals and recommendations for living • Seek help elsewhere • Mithra, Isis, Cybele and Attis, … Christ. • Constantine accepts Christianity in Empire, 313 AD

  16. Introduction • Jewish Ethics

  17. Introduction • Jewish Ethics • Follow the Law!

  18. Introduction • Jewish Ethics • Follow the Law! • the observance of the commandments is not conditional on understandingthem

  19. Introduction • Jewish Ethics • Follow the Law! • the observance of the commandments is not conditional on understandingthem • Ten Commandments

  20. Introduction Christian ethics is normative, and the norms are set by known, fixed statements of Law

  21. Introduction • Problem of Evil

  22. Introduction • Problem of Evil • How can there be Evil in the World?

  23. Introduction • Problem of Evil • How can there be Evil in the World? • Manichaeans – Two principles: one Good, one Bad

  24. Introduction • Problem of Evil • How can there be Evil in the World? • Christians – God is all-powerful God wishes all good things Therefore there are all good things. But there are also Evil things. How?

  25. Introduction • Problem of Evil • How can there be Evil in the World? • Stoics – Evil and Good can only exist together Man can reason faultily Evils are only apparent, not real.

  26. Introduction • Problem of Evil • How can there be Evil in the World? • Stoics – Evil and Good can only exist together Man can reason faultily Evils are only apparent, not real. • Augustine agrees: he saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good

  27. Introduction • Problem of Evil • Why do we do wrong?

  28. Introduction • Problem of Evil • Why do we do wrong? • Original Sin – we are naturally prone to be naughty

  29. Introduction • Problem of Evil • Why do we do wrong? • Original Sin – we are naturally prone to be naughty • We have Free Will

  30. Introduction • Problem of Evil • Why do we do wrong? • Original Sin – we are naturally prone to be naughty • We have Free Will • Augustine tells us how he enjoyed sinning: he once stole some pears, and didn’t even eat them. Why?

  31. Introduction • Problem of Evil • Why do we do wrong? • Original Sin – we are naturally prone to be naughty • We have Free Will • Augustine tells us how he enjoyed sinning: he once stole some pears, and didn’t even eat them. Why? • Just to enjoy the freedom of theft!

  32. Introduction • Problem of Evil • Why do we do wrong? • Original Sin – we are naturally prone to be naughty • We have Free Will • Augustine tells us how he enjoyed sinning: he once stole some pears, and didn’t even eat them. Why? • Just to enjoy the freedom of theft! • Discipline the Will! Want what is right!

  33. Introduction Christians take the Will rather than the Act to be the principal carrier of moral value in humans

  34. The Order of Love

  35. The Order of Love • How should the will be shaped?

  36. The Order of Love • How should the will be shaped? • Do what it takes to achieve Happiness – eudaimonia, beatitudo (which is not just ‘blessedness’)

  37. The Order of Love • How should the will be shaped? • Do what it takes to achieve Happiness – eudaimonia, beatitudo (which is not just ‘blessedness’) • Contra most pagan philosophers, this is not entirely up to the individual

  38. The Order of Love • Immortality is required for happiness

  39. The Order of Love • Immortality is required for happiness • So accept there is a heaven to reach

  40. The Order of Love • Immortality is required for happiness • So accept there is a heaven to reach • Act so as to reach it

  41. The Order of Love • Immortality is required for happiness • So accept there is a heaven to reach • Act so as to reach it • Obey God’s (New Testament) commands

  42. The Order of Love • Immortality is required for happiness • So accept there is a heaven to reach • Act so as to reach it • Obey God’s (New Testament) commands • Love God above all. • Love your neighbour as you love yourself.

  43. The Order of Love • Immortality is required for happiness • So accept there is a heaven to reach • Act so as to reach it • Obey God’s (New Testament) commands • Love God above all • Love your neighbour as you love yourself Isn’t this a bit self-interested to be real love?

  44. The Order of Love • Love can be justified without commands

  45. The Order of Love • Love can be justified without commands • Happiness requires loving right things The title ‘happy’ cannot, in my opinion, belong either to him who has not what he loves, whatever it may be, or to him who has what he loves if it is hurtful, or to him who does not love what he has, although it is good in perfection

  46. God Angels Humans Horses Insects Rocks Nothing SCALE OF BEING The Order of Love • Love can be justified without commands • Happiness requires loving right things • There is a hierarchy of things (According to the Neo-Platonists)

  47. God Angels Humans Horses Insects Rocks Nothing SCALE OF BEING The Order of Love • Love can be justified without commands • Happiness requires loving right things • There is a hierarchy of things • They are of declining changeability

  48. God Angels Humans Horses Insects Rocks Nothing SCALE OF BEING The Order of Love • Love can be justified without commands • Happiness requires loving right things • There is a hierarchy of things • They are of declining changeability • Love the least changeable and most perfect

  49. God Angels Humans Horses Insects Rocks Nothing SCALE OF BEING The Order of Love • Love can be justified without commands • Happiness requires loving right things • There is a hierarchy of things • They are of declining changeability • Love the least changeable and most perfect • Happiness is in Loving God

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